er in
all the relations of this life, as well as in our relations with God.

Young Christians are also prone to undervalue _little things_. The
greater things of religion take such strong possession of their souls,
that they overlook many minor things of essential importance. In seasons
of special religious awakening, this mistake is very common; in
consequence of which, many important interests suffer, and the
derangement which follows, makes an unfavorable impression as to the
influence of revivals. The spirit of the Christian religion requires
that every duty should be discharged in its proper time. The beauty of
the Christian character greatly depends on its symmetrical proportions.
A person may be very zealous in some things, and yet quite defective in
his Christian character. And the probability is, that he has no more
religion than shows itself in its consistent proportions. The new energy
imparted by the regenerating grace of God may unite itself with the
strong points of his character, and produce a very prominent
development; while, in regard to those traits of character which are
naturally weak, in his constitutional temperament, grace may be scarcely
perceptible. For instance, a person who is naturally bold and resolute,
will be remarkable, when converted, for his _moral courage_; while,
perhaps, he may be very deficient in _meekness_. And the one who is
naturally weak and irresolute, will perhaps be remarkable for the mild
virtues, but very deficient in strength and energy of character. Now,
the error lies in cultivating almost exclusively those Christian graces
which fall in with our prominent traits of character. We should rather
bend our energies, by the grace of God, chiefly to the development of
those points of character which are naturally weak, while we discipline,
repress, and bring under control, those which are too prominent. This
will prevent deformity, and develop a uniform consistency of character.

There is, perhaps, a peculiar tendency to this _one-sided_ religion in
this age of excitement and activity; and the young convert, whose
Christian character is not matured, is peculiarly liable to fall into
this error. The mind becomes absorbed with one object. The more
exclusively this object is contemplated, the more its importance is
magnified. It becomes, to his mind, the _main thing_. It is identified
with his ideas of religion. He makes it a _test of piety_. Then he is
prepared to regard and